Show of anger over suicides
Parties try to corner government in House over farmers’ deaths
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-09-24 07:07 GMT
Hyderabad: A war of words raged between government and Opposition leaders on farmer suicides, defections and other issues, as the state Assembly session got off to a start on Wednesday. The first day of the session ended after paying tributes to departed former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and sitting Narayankhed Congress MLA P. Kista Reddy, even as ruling and Opposition leaders hit out at each other on farmer suicides in particular.
Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, who offered floral tributes at Martyrs’ Memorial at Gun Park opposite the Assembly, along with other TRS legislators, blamed the previous governments in the undivided State for neglect of farmers. TRS MLAs Guvvala Balraju and Jeevan Reddy also lambasted the Opposition for neglect of Telangana during their tenure which led to the crises in agriculture and other sectors, he said.
BJP blamed the TRS government for farmer suicides. “The TRS’ lopsided policies were responsible for the present plight of farmers. The government should own up responsibility and ensure quick ex-gratia and other benefits to farmers,” said K Laxman, BJP floor leader. BJP state unit chief G. Kishan Reddy, along with other party legislators, wearing saffron shirts and khandwas, carried withered tomato plants, as they marched to the Assembly from the agriculture office at Basheer Bagh, defying prohibitory orders.
1 full day to discuss suicides:
The Telangana Assembly will have a day-long discussion on farmer suicides and agrarian crisis in the state on September 29. This was among the decisions taken by the Business Advisory Committee, on Wednesday. The session, will be a nine-day affair, from 10 am to 2 pm daily. It will sit till October 10, except October 2 to 4. If required, there will be evening session and also extension of the session for a few days.
Speaker S. Madhusudhana Chary, who chaired the BAC meet, decided to earmark a full day for discussing farmer suicides. The Assembly, which was adjourned for the day after the condolence motion on former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and sitting Narayankhed MLA P. Kishta Reddy, will meet again on September 29. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, legislative affairs minister T. Harish Rao, Floor leaders of the Telugu Desam, Congress, MIM, BJP and CPI E. Dayakar Rao, K. Jana Reddy, Akbaruddin Owaisi, G. Kishan Reddy and Ravindra Kumar Naik, and others, attended.
Farmer suicides, problems in agriculture sector, housing scam, dengue and other viral fevers, defections, housing scam, deletion of voters in Hyderabad and another dozen odd issues would be taken up. “KCR accepted all our suggestions for discussion including defections. Though Harish Rao said it was under the purview of Speaker, we insisted on discussion. We also sought discussion on housing scam, which the CM agreed to,” Mr Dayakar Rao said.